Are you calling a Balk?

[dash_riprock]

You can start calling it now, or wait 'til the losing team puts up a 9-spot in the last inning after you passed on it because of the big lead. Your choice.

[MrUmpire]

1. Call the balks.

2. Tell the coach that if he is counting, he'll be in the parking lot by the time he gets to 4.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Taking the ball out of the glove and not completing the pitching motion is not a technical balk. It's a balk. Any movement once the pitcher has assumed the windup position other than a step backward with the pivot foot commits the pitcher to pitch (FED). Anything else is a balk. When the pitcher removed his hand (with or without the baseball) from his glove, he effectively started his motion and the runner was free to take off and steal, but was held in check by the illegal deception.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

1. Call the balks.

2. Tell the coach that if he is counting, he'll be in the parking lot by the time he gets to 4.

Thank you for your advise on the balk but, I don't need to bark out commands or make threating statements to let the coach know I am in charge or satisfy my ego. I know I have the final say and there is no need to flaunt it.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Thank you for your advise on the balk but, I don't need to bark out commands or make threating statements to let the coach know I am in charge or satisfy my ego. I know I have the final say and there is no need to flaunt it.

Nice point. I see more than a few umpires think it is good form to instruct the dugout from afar when a mere shake of the head or palm shown their way will suffice. Opening your mouth to the team usually opens the door to trouble. Silence can never be misquoted.

I think by now you know not to put on a balk clinic but to simply call the balks you saw. In my experience, the first balk call is usually all it takes. Good luck this season.

[jicecone]

Thanks Mike, it works for some and that is their perogative. I have just never found it necessary (unless the situation needed), to let everyone know who is in charge on the field. I know it and that is all there is to it.

As far as the balks, I agree that it can be a learning process by calling all of them, whether technical or mechanical, its discretion and I continue to refine even that, if I think it will make me a better official. Not just because some has told me too. There are often some different schools of thought on it and I was just trying get some more opinions from others.

Thanks

[Caesar's Ghost]

Better to have them learn it in a 9-0 game then to learn it in a 0-0 game that becomes 0-1.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by jicecone

As far as the balks, I agree that it can be a learning process by calling all of them, whether technical or mechanical, its discretion and I continue to refine even that, if I think it will make me a better official. Not just because some has told me too. There are often some different schools of thought on it and I was just trying get some more opinions from others.

Thanks

I will continue to argue that neither one were technical. The runner in each case is illegally deceived by both taking the hand out of the glove in the former and by stepping off with the free foot in the latter. In each case, the runner is put at a HUGE disadvantage. What would you have done in Play #2 if after the pitcher stepped off, the runner decided to steal and the pitcher threw him out at the base? Go back and say "Oh, that was a balk, by the way?" Just wondering what your reasoning is for considering either of these balks "technical," when each one has effectively killed the runner's chances of a stolen base.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

What would you have done in Play #2 if after the pitcher stepped off, the runner decided to steal and the pitcher threw him out at the base? Go back and say "Oh, that was a balk, by the way?"

The proper mechanic is to immediately signal a delayed dead balk.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Nice point. I see more than a few umpires think it is good form to instruct the dugout from afar when a mere shake of the head or palm shown their way will suffice. Opening your mouth to the team usually opens the door to trouble. Silence can never be misquoted.

Have not had a problem with a quiet warning at any level, HS through D-1. But thanks for your input.

[RPatrino]

Delayed dead balk signal? Huh?

In this case he delayed it to, well next season, maybe?? In my humble opinion, we can't pick and choose which rules to enforce and which ones not to. If you see a balk, call it. If appropriate, give a quick explanation of what you saw. I have always been against not calling certain rules. We always hear, 'its too early in the season to call that, blue'...

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Have not had a problem with a quiet warning at any level, HS through D-1. But thanks for your input.

When I first began umpiring three decades ago, I issued ultimatums like the one you suggested too. I no longer feel compelled to do so. If it works for you, stick with it.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

When I first began umpiring three decades ago, I issued ultimatums like the one you suggested too. I no longer feel compelled to do so. If it works for you, stick with it.

I've managed a career for 32 years that has included regionals using warnings when necessary. I'm happy for you that you don't warn. Thanks again for your input. I'll file it appropriately.

[BestUmp]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Have not had a problem with a quiet warning at any level, HS through D-1.

I have yet to miss a call either, we should team up!

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by BestUmp

I have yet to miss a call either,

Perhaps not, but your reading skills seem to be missing. I was very clearly writing about complaints about warnings, not about calls.